To the Editor:

Many citizens have expressed concern about the direction and actions of the Northampton Area School District, including building projects, closing schools, curriculum and resources, borrowing and taxes.

Unfortunately, the only way to change the course of the school district is to change the makeup of the school board. The school board governs everything that happens in the district.

In 2023, five seats on the school board, including all three regions, will be up for election. This occurs only once every four years. Prospective candidates can obtain nominating petitions from the Northampton County Elections Office at the Northampton County Government Center in Easton.

Candidates may begin obtaining signatures from registered voters Feb. 14. Completed petitions with at least 10 valid signatures on each petition (more are advised) must be returned to the elections office no later than March 7. Candidates for school board may cross-file in both Republican and Democrat parties since school board is considered a nonpolitical office.

School board elections are often decided at the primary election. Interestingly, only voters registered as Republican or Democrat are allowed to vote in the primary election. Voters registered as Independent or another affiliation are not allowed to vote in the primary election.

Successful candidates from the primary election will run in the general election in November, and successful candidates from the general election will take their seats on the school board in December.

Citizens interested in changing the direction of the school district, be it building issues, curriculum and resources, borrowing and taxes or other issues, should consider becoming a member of the school board.

More information is available at northamptoncounty.org.

Chuck Longacre

Moore Township